It was only a matter of months that turned into weeks.
The Clubhouse social network is accelerating its development with a global launch by Friday of its application on Android, the world's most popular smartphone operating system.
Alpha Exploration Co, the developers of Clubhouse, announced on the (rival) social network Twitter.
Android rollout continues!
đŻđ”đ§đ· đ·đș Japan, Brazil & Russia coming Tuesday
đłđŹđźđł Nigeria & India on Friday AM
đ Rest of world throughout the week, and available worldwide by Friday afternoon
- Clubhouse (@Clubhouse) May 16, 2021
Released last fall in the context of a confined world, the American platform relies on live discussions only in audio format and had quickly attracted an audience of entrepreneurs and celebrities.
A dazzling success with 15 million downloads, according to figures from App Annie, which was accompanied by a wave of criticism on the confidentiality of exchanges and the protection of privacy.
The CNIL has also opened an investigation.
Until now reserved for owners of an iPhone, access to "rooms", chat rooms, opens up to a potential new audience which represents, for example, 75% of smartphones in France.
A first English version has been available for a week in the United States or the United Kingdom.
Stronger competition
This version on Android will use the principle of co-optation which has been part of the success of the application and its invaluable invitations which give the feeling of being part of an exclusive club.
The breakthrough of the social network has whetted the appetite of digital giants who responded with their own projects.
Instagram (Facebook group) for example launched the option to cut the video in Instagram Live to focus on the voice.
Even closer to the Clubhouse concept, Twitter launched, in early May, Spaces, virtual discussion rooms that benefit from the broadcasting power of the social network.
The whole stake for Clubhouse is to avoid a destiny à la Meerkat, a live video broadcasting service which had experienced a similar rise before being swallowed up by Periscope⊠of Twitter.